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Appalachian State University men’s basketball head coach Jason Capel announced the signing of Rodney Milum and Jamaal Trice to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

Both student-athletes transfer from NJCAA 2011 national finalist Midland College (Texas).

“We are happy to add Rodney Milum and Jamaal Trice to our basketball family,” Capel noted. “They are both quality young men who come from a great program at Midland College. They are winners and hard workers and they will contribute to the fabric of what we’re building here in a winning program. I can’t wait to get them here on campus.'

Milum (6-0 • 187 • Guard) sank 70 three-pointers at a rate of 47 percent for Midland last season and was the team’s second leading scorer at 9.7 points per game. He added 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and nearly a steal per contest for head coach Ross Hodge. Milum sank 48 percent of his field goal attempts on the season. As a freshman in 2009-10, the Houston native averaged 5.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Milum attended Stratford High School in Houston and starred for the Houston Hoopstars Elite AAU squad.

Trice (6-6 • 220 • Guard/Forward) spent his sophomore year at Midland College after transferring from Connecticut, where he saw action in 10 games as a freshman. Trice helped Midland to its 33-4 record last season and a place in the NJCAA national championship game with 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds on the season. He shot 47 percent from the field and added 34 three-pointers. Trice attended Mater Dei High School in Los Angeles and spent an additional year at Durham, N.C.’s Mount Zion Christian School.

The newcomers join freshman guards Tabarris Hamilton (Winston-Salem, N.C./Fishburne Military) and Michael Neal (Greensboro, N.C./Oak Ridge Military), who signed with Appalachian in the November 2010 early period. In all, the Mountaineers return four starters and nine players.

Midland College head coach Ross HodgeOn Rodney Milum:“Rodney is a big-time shooter who is capable of making threes in bunches. He worked hard over the course of two years to become a better defender. Rodney came to us out of high school as a big-time scorer and I think he has really gotten to the point where he can do a lot of other things to help the team win; but the thing he does best is make shots.”

On Jamaal Trice: “Jamaal is another guy who is capable of making shots. He is a versatile defender who can defend multiple positions because of his size and strength. Jamaal shot the ball well for us this year and really played his best basketball of the season when it mattered most, in the regional and national tournaments. Jamaal is a team guy first and will bring a winning attitude to any team.”

Former Mount Zion head coach John FrenchOn Jamaal Trice: “First and foremost, I was pleased to see the effort and attention the ASU coaching staff gave in recruiting Jamaal. He is a very well-rounded player and person, both on the court and in the classroom, and I believe he has a chance to be a very good player in the Southern Conference. It’s an exciting time for Jamaal and this is a testament to the future of the program at Appalachian State. I look forward to seeing what he does at ASU.”

Breeze Set to Graduate Early

Junior forward Anthony Breeze (Greenville, S.C./Coastal Carolina), who will complete coursework for a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders this summer, will forgo his final season of eligibility with the Mountaineers. In his only season with the Black and Gold, Breeze averaged 4.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14 games. He made three starts for Appalachian and notched season highs of 14 points (vs. The Citadel/Feb. 26) and eight rebounds (vs. Robert Morris/Dec. 18).

Additionally, sophomore center Josh Nirenberg, freshman guard Anthony Thomas and junior guard Marcus Wright have been granted releases from their scholarships and will transfer this summer. Nirenberg scored two points and hauled in six rebounds in four contests in 2010-11. Thomas saw action in eight games and scored nine points with four rebounds on the year. Wright averaged 4.6 points and 1.8 rebounds for the Mountaineers.

“We want to thank all of those guys for their contributions to our basketball program,” Capel added. “We wish them the best in all of their future endeavors.”